Structural member for buildings



Feb. 7, 1939. H, w H ET AL I 2,146,540

STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR BUILDINGS Filed Feb 5, 1937 M INVENTORS,

Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES STRUCTURAL MEIWBER, FQR BUELDINGS Harry W. Hahn, Glendale, and Charles E. Keas and Edmund P. Burke, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application February 5, 1937, Serial No. 124,275

12 Claims.

This invention relates to and has for a main object the provision of a light weight metal fabricated structural unit of truss-like character composed of parallel chordal members and oppositely inclined alternately arranged web members cross connecting the chordal members and secured thereto at their extremities in shearing rather than in tensioned relationship so as to prevent the weakening of the chordal members at the joints as when rivets are used or when the flanges of the chordal members are deformed and bent over portions of the web members.

The chordal members, hereinafter referred to as rails and the web members hereinafter referred to as braces, are of such cross sectional form that a rigid structure is provided incapable of weaving, twisting and distortion when the structure is subjected to strains and stresses of less than a maximum indicated load limit for a given case. Preferably the rails are of deeply channelled cross section with flat webs and relatively right angular flanges between which the end portions of the braces are closely fitted, and fiat feet are provided on said braces which correspond to the 2 distance between the inner sides of the flanges and rest firmly upon the inner surfaces of the webs;

The braces, as in a truss, are alternately under compression and in tension, depending upon which one of the pair of rails is uppermost, and an important feature of our structure is to provide a shear joint between the feet of the braces and rails. To this end each joint consists of a key, or look through which portions of the feet 35 of adjacent braces are extended and upset above the inner surfaces of the keys, and the flanges of the rails being perforated at points in the plane of the keys for receiving lugs at the margins of the keys, thereby firmly locking each adjacent pair of braces to the rails in shearing relationship.

Thus, a structural unit embodying the aforementioned characteristics is adaptable for use as wall studs, joists, rafters and the like, capable of being readily reversed and of uniform character throughout the length of a unit.

We have shown a preferred form of structural unit embodying our improvements in the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of an assembled unit;

Fig. 2 is a section of the same on line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section of the same on line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevation on line H (if-ri Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on line 55 of Fig. 3;

Figs. 6, and 7 are transverse sections on lines 66 and 'l-'! of Fig. 4, respectively;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a locking and at- 5 taching key for securing the braces to the rails; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a brace.

The improved unit is constructed in suitable lengths and of variable width depending upon the use to which it is to be put. For joists the width of the unit and the size of the various elements are greater than when used for studs and other members. The proportionate size and strength of the several members of the unit, however, is about as shown and described herein. The unit includes a pair of parallel channelled side rails A, A, of uniform cross section, a plurality of diagonal braces B, B, etc. which are alternately inclined in opposite directions, and locking keys C, which are employed for firmly holding the members of the structure together.

Rails A are deeply channelled and have webs l of flat cross section and flanges 2, 2, turned at right angles to said webs, and the flanges of said rails are provided at uniformly spaced points slightly above the inner surfaces of the webs i with pairs of elongated apertures 3, 3, as shown in Fig. 1. The braces B have channelled bodies, preferably of semi-elliptical but perhaps of semicircular or parabolic cross section, as at 4, with oppositely extended feet i of flat cross section at their extremities and adapted to rest firmly upon the webs I of rails A, the width of said feet corresponding to the space between the rail flanges 2, 2, so as to prevent lateral movement of the braces relative to the rails.

The ends of the feet 4 are provided with inwardly bent lugs 5 which are disposed at right angles to the feet and are adapted to extend through apertures 6 in the locking keys C when said keys are operatively held upon the inner surfaces of the feet 4', as shown in Fig. 4. Keys C may be formed at their ends with grooves 1 corresponding in form to the outer surfaces of 45 the brace bodies 4 and are preferably formed initially of a slightly angular cross section, as shown in Fig. 8, so that when the keys are positioned upon the feet 4 of the braces pressure may be applied thereto for extending laterally 50 formed lugs 8 on the keys into the pairs of apertures 3 in the flanges 2 of rails A at the same time the lugs 5 are extended into and through the apertures 6.

Lugs 5 are sufficiently long to protrude through 55 and to extend slightly above the inner surfaces of the keys C and after the keys are positioned as described and locked to the rails A the protruding ends of lugs 5 are upset by means of a suitable tool, as at 9, thereby riveting the brace feet to the keys and locking the keys to the rails A against displacement or relative movement of said members. As shown in Fig. 4, the feet of adjacent braces B are held in abutting relation sothat longitudinal movement of the rails and braces is impossible. It will be apparent that alternate braces of the unit will be in compression and in tension depending which rail is uppermost when a load is applied thereto.

From the foregoing description of the structure of the assembled unit it will be apparent that we have provided a durable fabricated member which is capable of use for joists, rafters, studs and other structural purposes, without variation as to length of a unit or the width thereof except as may be required for adapting the same to various uses and loads. The units are capable of rapid machine formation and assembly and are therefore economical. The joints between the braces B may be so located that a unit may be cut into desired length in even numbers of feet or convenient fractions thereof; the units are completely reversible, side for side, and are of equal strength and serviceability regardless of which side is uppermost; and are not susceptible to the rotting and deterioration as are wooden members which have been heretofore used.

What we claim, is:

1. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of channelled side rails arranged with the flanges of said channels turned inwardly and having flat webs disposed at right angles to said flanges, diagonally disposed braces of channelled cross section alternately inclined in opposite direction and having oppositely extended feet corresponding in w dth to the width of the channels in said rails. and held flatwise on the webs of said rails, and keys superposed on said feet and interlocked with said braces and with said rails for holding said members together.

2. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of channelled side rails arranged with the flanges of said channels turned inwardly and having fiat webs disposed at right angles to said flanges, diagonally disposed braces of channelled cross section alternately inclined in opposite direction and having oppositely extended feet corresponding in width to the width of the channels in said rails and held fiatwise on the webs of said rails, and keys superposed on said feet and interlocked with said braces and with said rails for holding said members together, the feet of adjacent braces being supported in abutting relation.

3. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of channelled rails, a plurality of braces connecting said rails and alternately inclined in opposite directions, said braces having feet disposed fiatwise on the webs of said rails, said rails having perforations in the sides thereof, said feet having lugs inwardly bent therefrom, and keys superposed on said feet and having apertures for receiving said lugs and lugs extending into the perforations of said rails, for locking said members together against separation and movement.

4. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of channelled rails, a plurality of braces connecting said rails and alternately inclined in opposite directions, said braces having feet disposed fiatwise on the webs of said rails, said rails having perforations in'the sides thereof, said feet having lugs inwardly bent therefrom, and keys superposed on said feet and having apertures for receiving said lugs and lugs extending into the perforations of said rails, for locking said members together against separation and movement, the ends of said first named lugs being over said key.

5. A fabricated metal structural unit comp-rising: a pair of parallel rails of uniform cross section throughout the length thereof, braces engaged at their terminals with opposed faces of said rails at spaced points, and keys disposed inwardly of said opposed faces and overlying portions of the terminals of adjacent braces and having portions permanently interlocked with said braces and with said rails.

6. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of rails, braces connecting said rails at spaced points, and keys disposed inwardly of said rails and connecting portions of adjacent braces. and interlocked with said braces and with said rails.

'7. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of parallel rails, braces connecting said rails at spaced points and having abutting feet disposed fiatwise and inwardly of the outer faces of said rails, and keys overlying the feet of adjacent braces and interlocked with said feet and with said rails at points between the inner and outer faces of said rails.

8. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of rails, braces alternately inclined in opposite directions connecting said rails, and

keys engaging portions of adjacent braces at points spaced inwardly of the outer faces of said rails and interlocked with said braces and with said rails at points intermediate the planes of the inner and outer faces of said rails.

9. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of rails having parallel webs and inwardly turned flanges forming channels in said rails of rectangular cross section, inclined braces connecting said rails and having their extremities of a width closely fitting the channels of said rails and portions thereof of flat cross section engaging the webs of said rails, the flanges of said rails having perforations therein at points slightly inwardly of said webs, and keys superposed on the flat portions of said braces and provided with laterally formed lugs adapted to be extended through said perforations for holding said rails and braces permanently together.

10. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: chord members of uniform cross section, diagonal web members connecting said chord members, and key means for joining the extremities of said web members to said chord members in shearing relationship at points inwardly spaced from opposed faces of said chord members.

11. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of parallel chord members of uniform cross section throughout the length thereof, and a plurality of diagonal web members connecting said chord members and having terminal portions seated upon said chord members, and keys disposed between opposed faces of said chord members for joining said terminal portions to said chord members at points spaced inwardly from said faces and in shearing relationship.

12. A fabricated metal structural unit comprising: a pair of parallel chord members of uniformly channelled cross sections through their length, a plurality of diagonallydisposed web 15 webs of the chord members, and. keys engaging the inner surfaces of said feet and provided with lugs extending into and closely fitting said perforations, for securing the members of said unit together in shearing relationship.

HARRY W. HAHN. CHARLES E. KEAS. EDMUND P BURKE. 

